Israeli peace negotiator slams EU guidelines

Israeli chief peace talks negotiator Tzipi Livni Sunday criticised the European Union (EU) guidelines excluding annexed territories in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights as part of Israel, an official statement said.

"The future borders between Israel and Palestine will be decided in negotiations and not by the guidelines of the EU," Livni was quoted as saying in the statement, Xinhua reported.

Livni made the statement following a meeting with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who is visiting the region, Xinhua reported.

Livni slammed the EU's regulation by calling it a "unilateral step" and asked the Europeans to "wait for the results of the talks".

Westerwelle said his country supports the direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians and added that "one-sided moves that harm the negotiations should be prevented".

According to the EU Commission guidelines published three weeks ago, any type of agreement between Israel and an EU-based government or company will include a clause specifying the agreement will not apply in the territories Israel annexed in the 1967 war, in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

The guidelines de-facto negates Israel's sovereignty in those areas.

In response to the new guidelines, the Israeli government said it would halt cooperation with EU representatives in the West Bank and Gaza and limit their movement in those areas.